FLPs and Main Group Catalysis

FLP 和主族催化

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04185
• 负责人: Stephan, Douglas
• 金额: $ 7.65万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=716490
• 关键词: FLPs; Main; Group; Catalysis

Chemical industry is the largest consumer of energy worldwide. The most common approach to addressing this problem involves energy-optimize chemical synthesis using catalysis to obtain high value-products from cheap starting materials. Commonly, industrial and academic research chemists use optimized catalytic methodologies aiming for energy efficiency. Indeed, catalysis is central to the manufacture of a myriad of products from pharmaceuticals to agro-chemicals, from polymers to foodstuffs. The vast majority of catalysts in use are based on precious metals, which are expensive, rare, toxic and are obtained with a large carbon footprint. Our research offers a fundamentally new and innovative approach to catalyst design and applications targeting the use of earth-abundant main group compounds. In 2006, we made the transformative discovery of that sterically frustrated Lewis pairs were able to activate H2. This led to FLP catalysts for simple and asymmetric hydrogenations, principally based on electrophilic boron-based FLPs. Moreover, we also showed FLPs could activate a variety of other small molecules, including olefins, alkynes, and the greenhouse gases, CO2, SO2 and N2O. At the same time, we explored and developed Lewis acid catalysis employing a variety of main group cations. Building on our world leading position in main group catalysis, the present research program focuses on advances that target new areas of application. Specifically, we target new, key reactions that are both of broad interest and high impact, Ultimately we hope to transform the notions of catalysis in the chemical community, demonstrating the wide utility of main group species in these efforts. Main group N2 Chemistry: In this proposal, we target a new strategy to capture and convert N2 using earth abundant, non-toxic main-group based compounds. While efforts to make NH3 will be considered direct access to high-value fine chemicals will also be targeted. C-F Bond Activation: We plan to develop strong main group Lewis acidic cation catalysts incorporating P(I), P(III) and P(V) cations, to target reactions of C-F bonds, providing access to libraries of new agrochemicals, drugs and materials derived from known compounds. C-H Bond Activation: In general, almost all strategies to C-H activation utilize directing groups and/or reactive metal catalysts. We plan to exploit the power of FLPs to provide metal-free strategies for catalytic routes to selective C-H derivatization. Main group metathesis: Olefin metathesis is a powerful synthetic tool in organic, polymer and materials chemistry. We have designed cationic P-based species targeting applications in olefin metathesis. In summary, our program targets new main group reagents for important stoichiometric and catalytic reactions. The longer term vision involves the introduction of green, efficient and economically viable main group catalyst technologies to chemical industry.

化学工业是世界上最大的能源消耗者。解决这一问题的最常见方法是利用催化剂进行能源优化的化学合成，从廉价的原料中获得高价值的产品。通常，工业和学术研究化学家使用优化的催化方法，旨在提高能源效率。事实上，从药品到农用化学品，从聚合物到食品，催化作用是制造无数产品的核心。目前使用的绝大多数催化剂都是基于贵金属的，这些贵金属价格昂贵、稀有、有毒，而且碳足迹很大。我们的研究为催化剂的设计和应用提供了一种全新的创新方法，目标是利用地球上丰富的主基化合物。